Stapling-machine



W. S. HAMM. STAPLING MACHINE.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

No; 447,681. Patented Mar. 3, 1891.

.lll

Fig. l,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. S. HAMM.

STAPLING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 3, 1891.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W.. S. HAMM.

STAPLING MACHINE.

No. 447,681. Patented Mar. 8,1891

Nrrn :o f S A ATENT Erica.

WILLIAM S. HAMM, OF NEWTON, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE STAPLE FASTENING MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,681, dated March 3, 1891. Application filed November 16, 1889. Renewed January 19, 1891. Serial No. 378,212. (No model.)

' To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM S. IIAMM, of Newton, in the county of Middlcsex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making and Driving Staples, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for making wire staples and driving them into a boot- 1o sole or other article.

The object of my invention is to furnish a machine that will make such staples from a continuous wire, and one in which the wire feeding and cutting devices can be simultaneously adjusted by the operator, so that staples of any desired length can be driven by the machine.

The invention consists in a machine for making and driving staples, the combination,

with the staple-forming anvil, the bendingdie co-operating therewith, and operating mechanism for saidparts, of a slide or carrier movable toward and from said anvil,,a wire-cutting knife on said carrier, means for operating said knife, a wire-feeding roll mounted on a shaft, a ratchet affixed to said shaft, a movable feed-regulating shield partly covering said ratchet, a reciprocating pawl or pawls adapted to engage the ratchet and hav- 0 ingtheir operative engagementtherewith controlled by'said shield, devices connecting said shield with the adjustable knife carrier, whereby changes in the position of said carrierto move the knife from or toward the staple-bending anvil are caused to move the shield, and thereby enable the pawl to give a greater or less movement to the feed-roll, and a hand-operatedadjusted device, whereby the operator may adjust the carrier and, through the connecting devices, the feed-regulating shield.

My improvements also consist in certain features and details of construction, as more particularly hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in front elevation of the 7 lower portion of the feeding, adjusting, cut

ting, and drivingmechanism. Fig. 5 isahorizontal section through the line a: 00 of Fig. a. Fig. 6 illustrates a plan of the slotted feeding-guide and knife for cutting off the lengths of wire. Fig. '7 is a vertical section through the linejj of Fig. 6, showing the knife in side elevation. Fig. Sis a detail of the mechanism for forming the staples. Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the same, showing their positions at the time when they have formed the sta- 6o ples. Fig. 10 is a detail of the upper portion of the mechanism for regulating the length of wire to be cut off. .Fig. 11 is a vertical section, showing the lower portion of such regulating mechanism. Fig. 12 is a detail of the mechanism for operating the feeding devices. Fig. 13 is a detail of the cam for operating the movable anvil. Fig. 14 illustrates a detail of the spring-anvil. 1

Similar letters indicate like parts in all of 7c the figures.

A is the feed-shaft, which is supported horizontally in suitable bearings upon the machine and which is provided at its forward end with the active feed-roller ct.

B (see Figs. 1, 2, and l) is a block having on its inner end an idle-roller Z), which is. adapted to bear against the periphery of the roller a and revolve by frictional contact from the same. The block B is inclosed with a sta- 8o tionary sleeve or casing O, and said block is provided with a screw-threaded shank c at its outer end. A coil-spring (Z surrounds said shank within the casing, and a thumb-nut c on the shank 0 outside ofthe caslngserves to regulate the tension of the spring d and that of the roller 1) against the roller a, and said construction also allows of the feed-roller being entirely removed for any purpose that may be desired.

D (see Fig. 11) is a sleeve, which is loosely hung upon the shaft A and which has an upwardly-extending arm E for supporting a spring pawl or pawls 6'. r1 gear d is keyed to said sleeve D, and said gear, sleeve, and 5 pawl are given a reciprocating motion by means of the following mechanism: Upon the driving-shaft F. (see Figs. 1, 2, and 12) is a wheel G, in one side of which isacam-groove f, Fig. 12. A segmental gear II is pivoted to I00 a fixed support near the side of the wheel G, having the cam-groove f, and said segmental gear is provided with an upwardly-extendin g arm having a roller g, which works in the groove f. The segmental gear II has an intermittently-oscillating motion imparted to it by means of the cam-groove f, and said gear H, engaging with the gear (l,imparts to the latter, to the sleeve D,and to the pawl or pawls e the reciprocating motion above stated.

I is a ratchet, which is keyed to the shaft A next to the arm E and which is adapted to be operated by the pawl or pawls 6. (See Fig. 11.)

J is a bevel-gear hung loosely upon the shaft A and having a sleeve-extension 71. adjacent forward of the ratchet 1. This sleeve h is provided with an arc-shaped shield t, which extends partly over the periphery of the ratchet I to hold up the pawl or pawls e from engagement with said ratchet, when desired.

A horizontal beveled segmental gear is, forming one end of a lever K, engages with the bevel-gear J. The forward end of the lever K is pivoted to the back end Z of a lever L. The forward end of the lever L is pivoted to a horizontally-sliding block or knife carrier M, which is adapted to slide in a casing N. The block or carrier M is provided with a longitudinal groove m, for guiding the wire, and also a lateral forward extension, upon which is obliquely pivoted in a vertical position a spring-knife '12. The forward end of the knife n extends obliquely across a line drawn forward from the groove m, and said knife 77. has an upwardly-extending lug n, for a purpose hereinafter explained. The outer end of the sliding carrier M has an internal screw-thread o, in which the inner end of a thumb-screw O is adapted to engage. Said thumb-screw passes through the outer end of the casing N, and has a rotary motion in said casing, but is restrained fromlongitudinal motion by means of a collar orother well-known means. By turning the screw 0 to the right the sliding carrier M and its knife n will be drawn back by means of the screw 0, enterin g the screw-thread 0, and by turning the screw 0 to the left the reverse motion of the carrier and knife will take place. From the above it will be seen that the position of the knife for cutting off the wire is regulated; but the regulating of the position of the carrier M by the screw 0 has also another purposeviz., to regulate the feed of the wire. The wire, which is'in a long coil, may be held in any appropriate manneras, for example, upon a reel-as shown by P in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The wire 1) is fed between the rolls at and I) along a guide 1) into the groove m of the carrier M. The feeding is accomplished,

as above stated, by means of the pawl or pawls e, engaging with the ratchet I; but when the shield i is brought between said pawl or pawls and ratchet the feed ceases until the pawl or pawls have dropped from the shield 1' upon the ratchet again, when the feeding continues as before until it is again stopped by the shield. 13y moving the carrier M by means of the screw 0 in one direction or another the position of the shieldt' with relation to the pawl or pawls e is changed through the medium of the levers L and K and gears 71; and J, and the feed is thus regulated. By turning the screw 0 to the right the carrier M will move outward and with it the connecting-arm of the lever L. The arm Z will then move inward, the segmental gear 7; will rock outward, the gear J will rotate from right to left, carrying the shield 11 farther away from the pawl or pawls 6', so that the wire will have a longer feed. hen the screw 0 is turned to the left the reverse action of the parts will take place, the shield 1 will be brought nearer to the pawl or pawls, and the feed will be shorter. v

Fig. 10 illustrates a section through the shaft A, looking to the front of the machine and showing the operation of the pawl, ratchet, and shield. In said figure the arm E and its pawl e are moving from left to right, and the pawl has just dropped off the shield 'i and is operating the ratchet 1. After said movement is completed the arm E and the pawl will swing to the left, and the pawl will then ride on the shield t'. \Vhen the pawl swings again to the right, it cannot again operate the ratchet until it falls from the shield 2', when the above action will be repeated. It will thus be readily seen that the nearer the shield 2 is moved to the'pawl in the direction of the course of the same the shorter will be the feed, for the pawl in its operating direction cannot operate the ratchet until ithas dropped from the shield.

On the main shaft F is awheel Q, upon the front side of which is a trip-cam (1. A bellcrank lever is pivoted to the lower portion of the machine, the upwardly-projecting arm R of which is provided with a roller 1' for bearing against the cam q. The lateral arm S of said bell-crank lever extends over the lug n of the cutter n. The cam q is so arranged as to force out the arm R, and consequently force down the arm S to operate the knife or by hearing down on the lug at just at the point when the feed of the wire has ceased by the pawl e leaving the arc of the ratchet I.

The wire will consequently be cut oif by the knife when the desired length has been fed,

and each strip thus out will be the same length during any adjustment of the feed and knife. The length of the piece is regulated by the feed and knife adjusting mechanism before described.

T is a sliding block extending longitudinally with the machine and at right angles to the carrier M. The forward end of the block T is provided with a projection 25, having its longest sides vertical and parallel with each other. The upper edge or side of the projection 25 is on a lower level than the upper surface of the carrier M, and said projection is the male die or anvil for forming the staples, and over which the short; lengths of wire are bent. The upper edge of the projection t is preferably convex, in order that there shall be no sharp edges of the die to break or strain the inner surface of the staple, and also to make the loop of the same rounded or concave. The inner end of the block T is provided with a lateral pin or projection t, and said pin or projection is spanned by the two prongs u u of the bifurcated lower end U of a lever, the upper arm V of said lever being provided with a roller n, which is operated by a trip-cam g on the back side of the wheel Q. hen the upper arm V is at its farthest forward stroke, the block T and its projection t are drawn back to their utmost limit; but when the raised portion of the cam q has forced back the arm V the arm U will be forward, as well as the block T and its projection 2?.

The rollers r and r should be kept constantly bearin g upon the sides of the wheel Q, so that their respective cams will always operate the levers R and V at the proper time. To accomplish this purpose, a coiled spring 0 may be used, connecting said arms R and V, tending to draw them toward each other; or separate springs may be used instead.

XV is a vertically-sliding block, which is guided and prevented from lateral displacement in a forward direction by the front plate X and by the body Y of the machine. (See Figs. 1, at, and S.) A shoulder 1, extending backward from the top of the plate f, forms a stop for the approach of the block \V. Said block is provided with a lateral projection 10, having an oblique slot to.

A is a horizontal rock-shaft journaled longitudinally with the machine, the forward end of which extends to the front of the machine, and to which forward end is attached an arm B, and on the lower end of said arm is a lateral pin a, which works in the slot to. To the back or inner end of the shaft A is secured an upwardly-extending arm C, having a roller 0 at its upper end, which works in a cam-groove gon the front side of the wheel G. By the revolution of said wheel G and its cam-groove g the arm 0, shaft A, and arm B are oscillated, and the pin a will play up and down in the slot 10. Vhen the camgroove g forces thev arm 0 to the right, the lower arm B will be forced to the left, the pin a will be at the lower end of the slot '10, and the sliding block XV will be in its raised position, as shown in Figs. 1 and t. When the arm B is moved in the reverse direction, the pin a will slide up the groove 20 and force down the block W to its lowermost position.

The lower end of the block W has a backwardly extending projection f abutting against the front of the body Y,and this projection has a vertical slot f which constitutes the female die for forming the staple. The slot f is made so as to overlap in its thereafter the cam q will draw back the block T and its anvil if from beneath the block'VV.

D is the driver-bar, the lower portion of which slides and is guided by the body of the machine Y, the front of thesliding block W, the side flanges 3 of said block, and the front plate X. The upper portion of said bar is guided by the body of the machine and the front plate X. (See Fig. 1.) The lower end of the bar D has a downwardly-extending driver 7t, which is adapted to pass through the recess f of the block \V and to drive the staple.

E is an arm, which is pivoted laterally in bearings on top of the machine and back of the driver-bar D. This arm E extends forward above said bar and is connected to the same by a rigid link 2'. A powerful coilspring j bears against the upper surface or edge of the arm E and tends constantly to force the same down, and the driver-bar D with it. If it be desired to increase or de crease the tension of the spring, it may be done in any well-known manneras, for example, by drawing up the looped end of the spring and placing ,it over a higher pink, as shown in Fig. 2, to increase the tension, or by relaxing the spring and placing its loop over a lower pin to decrease the tension. On the front end of the shaft Fis secured a trip-cam, F, and extending horizontally from the driver-bar D is a stud bearing a roller Z, which roller constantly bears upon the portion of the cam F, which is uppermost, said cam forming the stop to the downward play of the driver-bar. When the roller Z rests upon that portion of the periphery of the cam F farthest from its center, the driver-bar D and its rod h willbe at the highest point of their play, as shown in Fig. 1. A little further revolution to the left will cause the roll Z to drop suddenly from the abrupt angle on the periphery to that portion of the periphery nearest the center of the cam, and the driver-bar D and its driver it will also drop, being given so much extra force" in their downward play as the spring j will effect. This operation will force the staple through the material.

The driver-bar D is provided with adjustable nuts and washers 4 above the plate X to act as stops against the upper edge of the plate X for the downward playof said driverbar, and said nuts and washers should be so adjusted that when they rest upon the top of said plate the bottom of the driver h is flush with the lower surface of the block G.

The cam F is so made and adjusted upon the shaft F that said cam will cause the driver to drop upon the staple just after the sliding block T has been withdrawn and TIO whenthe block YV is at the lowest portion of its course, holding the staple in position. The shaft F continuing to revolve after the preceding operation, the driver and the block will be raised by their respective cams to their former positions. Attached to the body of the machine below the block T and plate X is the throat G, having a vertical opening an, through which the driver 7L passes in its downward course and which guides the staple which is being driven.

Projecting upward from the base II of the machine and under the block G is a vertical cylindrical casing I, which incloses a springanvil, a convenient form of which is shown in the drawings, which is made of two partsan upper and a lowcrn and 07. respectively-- and which parts are separated by a coilspring 0. The lower part 02 and the spring 0 support the upper part or, and the entire anvil is supported by one arm K of a lever, which extends longitudinally with the machine. The baclnvardly-extending arm L of this lever is pivoted to a rod or bar Mflwhich slides vertically in a casing N at the back of the machine. A trip-cam O on the shaft F is adapted to force down the rod M and raise the spring-anvil at the front end of the machine. The raised portion of the cam O in sliding over the upper end of the rod M forces down said rod and raises the anvil n n 0 just before the plunger .D and itsrod 72 descend, thus forming an excellent resistance to the force of the plunger as soon as it begins to act upon the staple. As soon as the raised portion of the cam 0 passes over the upper end of the rod M the spring P, which is attached to said rod and the casin g N, will raise said rod and the arm L and will consequently lower the arm K and spring-anvil. This will happen directly after the staple has been driven. The springl tends constantly to bear the upper end of the rod or bar M against the periphery of the cam 0. The spring-anvil is for the purpose of giving a yielding support for goods of different thickness between said anvil and the block 1 Q is the fly or driving wheel of the ma chine, and to which power can be transmitted in any well-known manner. This wheel Q is loosely journaled upon the shaft F, so that it may revolve alone, and it is provided with a clutch upon its inner surface. \Vhen it is desired totransmit motion to the shaft, it is accomplished by means of a clutch T, which is keyed on the shaft F, so that it may be slid upon the same and upon a clutch on the wheel Q. This sliding of the clutch T on the shaft is accomplished by means of a rod R, having a wedge-shaped cam r on its end, and which enters a slot "1' in the sleeve of the clutch. A coil-spring s between the two clutches tendsto keep them out of engagement with each other until the wedge r is driven up into the slot, and when said wedge is pulled down by the rod R the spring s forces the two clutches apart and The driving-wheel Q bein the shaft F is disconnected with the power. This clutch mechanism is unimportant, and any other well-known mechanism may be employed to transmit power to the shaft F and to disconnect said power from the same. A strong ratchet U is keyed to the shaft F, and a correspondingly-strong pawl is pivoted to the upper portion of the frame of the machine for engaging with said ratchet, the object of said pawl and ratchet being to lock the shaft F and its several cams from turning in the wrong direction.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

g given its revolutions by means of a belt or other mechanism connecting it with the power said wheel Q revolves freely upon the shaft F until the clutch T is brought into engagement with the clutch of the wheel Q by means of raising the wedge r by the handle or rod B, when the shaft F will be revolved. The length of the feed and of the lengths of wire to be cut off being regulated by the screw 0, carrier M, levers L and K, racks 7i! and J, and shield t', asabove described, and the boot or shoe bottom or other article to be stapled being placed upon the upper portion a of the anvil and the wire fed between therolls a and b to the groove m in the carrier M, the revolution of the Wheel G, through the shaft F, will by means of its cam-groove f operate the segmental rack 11, Fig. l2,which willoperatc the gear d and oscillate the sleeve D, the arm E, and the pawl or pawls c. This oscillation of the pawls will cause the ratchet I to rotate, and the shaft A upon which said ratchet is keyed, and also the feed-roll a. The pawl or pawls will turn the ratchet until the former swings away from the latter in its operating course, when the rotation of the ratchet, shaft A, and roll a will stop. The pawl or pawls will then swing back, riding over the ratchet and the sleeve 2', and turn in the operating course again, but will not engage with the ratchet-teeth, and move the shaft A and feed roll at until the pawl or pawls have dropped from the shield 2', when the ratchet will be operated and the feed will begin again. The bottom of the block W will begin to act and bind the wire immediately before said wire is cut off by the knife. Just after the pawl or pawls have got to the extent of the actuating movement, are about to return, and have ceased to feed, the trip-cam g on the shaft F comes into play to bear down the arm S of the lever B S and to operate the knife 12 to cut off the wire at the desired length. The block T, with its projection t, is at the forward end of its course and the plunger D is at the upward extremity of its play. The next operation will be the descent of the block XV (which is almost touching the cut-off piece of wire) by means of the above-stated mechanism, and said cut-01f piece will be bent over the projection 'l and formed into a staple by means of said projection and recess f in the bottom of the block \V, as shown in Fi 9. A

IIO

further revolution of the shaft F will bring the trip-cam g on wheel Q into play to operate the lever U V and to draw back the block T from the staple, and will also bring the cam 0 into play to press down the lever M and raise the spring-anvil n n 0. At this point the cam F will be in a position where the roll Z will drop suddenly, the spring 2" forcing down the plunger D and rod h with considerable force, and thus driving the staple through the guide m into the material placed beneath it on the upper end a of the anvil. The projection of the cam 0 will pass over the upper end of the rod M as soon as the staple has been driven, and the spring P will draw back the spring-anvil to its lowermost position, and the other parts of the machine will return to their original positions, when the operation will be repeated.

M y improved machine is particularly adapted for tacking or temporarily fasteninga tapsole to the outer sole of a boot or shoe by means of staples; but it will be evident that it may be used for driving staples in any other kind of goods.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for making and driving staples, the combination of a staple-forming anvil, a bending-die co-operating therewith, a driver, operating mechanism for said parts, a slide or carrier m'ovable toward and from said anvil, a wire-cutting knife on saidcarrier, independent means for operating said knife, a wire-feeding roll, a feed-regulating device, connections between said feed-regulating device and the knife-carrier, whereby changes in the position of thecarrier to move the knife from or toward the staple-bending anvil are caused to regulate the movement of the feed-roll, and means for adjusting the slide or carrier, as set forth.

2. In a machine for making and driving staples, the combination, with the staple-forming anvil, the bending-die co-operating therewith, and operating mechanism for said parts, of a slide or carrier movable toward and from said anvil, a wire-cutting knife on said carrier, means for operating said knife, a wirefeeding'roll mounted on a shaft, a ratchet affixed to said shaft, a movable feed-regulating shield partly covering said ratchet, a reciprocating pawl or pawls adapted to engage the ratchet and having their operative engagementtherewith controlled by said shield, devices connecting said shield with the adj ustable knife-carrier, whereby changes in the position of said carrier to move the knife from or toward the staple-bending anvil are caused to move the shield, and thereby enable the pawl to give a greater or less movement to the feed-roll, and means for adjusting the slide or carrier and through the connecting devices the feed-regulating shield, as set forth. 3. In a machine for making and driving staples, the combination,with the staple-forming anvil, the bending-die co-operating therewith, and operating mechanism for said parts, of the feed-shaft and its roll, the ratchet secured to said shaft, the sleeve D, having the arm E, pawl or pawls e, and the gear d, a segmental gear for engaging with the gear (1, and a cam for oscillating said segmental gear, all as set forth.

4t. In a machine for making and driving staples, the combination,with the staple-forming anvil, the bending-die, and operating mechanism co-operating therewith, of the feed-shaft and its roll, the ratchet secured to said shaft, an oscillating pawl or pawls engaging with said ratchet, the gear J, having the feed-regulating shield t, the lever K, having the gear 7r, meshing with the gear J, the lever L, engaged with the lever K, a block or carrier H, engaged with the lever L, the Wire-cutting knife on said carrier, and a thumb-screw adapted to move said carrier toward and from the said anvil, all as set forth.

5. In a machine for making and driving staples, the combination, with the staple-forming anvil, the bending-die co-operating therewith, and operating mechanism for said parts, of an adjustable sliding block or carrier provided with a spring-raised knife, abell-crank lever, one arm of which extends over said knife, and a cam engaged with the other arm of the lever and adapted to oscillate the lever, and thereby operate the knife, all as set forth. 6. In a machine for making and driving staples, the combination, with the staple-forming anvil, the bending-die co-operating therewith, and operating mechanism for said parts,

of the feed-shaft and its roll and the ratchet I, an oscillating pawl or pawls for engaging with said ratchet, the gear J, having the shield 2', lever K, having the gear k, lever L, an adjustably-sliding block having a spring-knife, a lever having one arm extending over said knife, and a cam for operating said lever, all substantially as described.

7. In a machine for making and driving staples, the combination of the shaft F, lever U V, cam q, and block T, mechanism for feeding the wire and cnttingit off in short lengths over the projection 25, lever A B 0, pin a, and sliding block W, having the projection to and slot w, and staple-driving mechanism, all as set forth.

8. In a machine for making and driving staples, the combination, with wire feeding and cutting mechanism and a movable stapleformer, of theshaft F, cam q, lever A B 0', pin a, sliding block XV, having the projection 20 and slot w, the plunger D, roller l, cam F, arm E, and springj, all as set forth.

9. In a machine for making and driving metallic fastenings, the combination, with wire feeding, cutting, and driving mechanism, of a vertical casing I, the anvil a n and its spring 0 in said casing, the lever K L, the vertically-sliding arm M, and a cam and spring whereby said arm is reciprocated, all as set forth.

10. In L machine for making and driving name to this specification, in the presence of metallic instenings, the combination of the twosubscribingwitnessesflhisi[.stday ofSepshaft F, the ezun O,spring-m'm M, springp, tember, A. I). 188.). lever K L, yielding anvil 'n, the cam F,

5 driver-bar D, driver h, and roll Z, all as set \Vitncsses:

forth. A. SEAVER,

O. F. BROWN.

\VILLIAM S. IIAMM.

In testimony whereof I lnwe signed my I 

